Attachment structure for laboratory clamps



May 12, 1953 i D. M. SMITH ATTACHMENT STRUCTURE FOR LABORATORY CLAMPS Filed Jan. 28. 1947 [NVE'NTOP DonaZdMSmz'th, W

ATTORNEY Patented May 12, 1953 ATTACHMENT sTRUoTURE'FoR LABORATORY CLAMPS Donald M. Smith, Wilmington, Del. Application January 28, 1947 Serial No. 724,757

This invention relates to laboratoryclamps and-- clamp holders. More'particularly, itrelates to an improved structure whereby laboratory clamps, clamp holders, and the like may be attached to support rods.

A typical clamp for use in supporting laboratory apparatus may consist of three parts, namely a gripping mechanism which comes into direct contact with the apparatus tobe supported,- a.

connecting bar, and an attachment structure. This latter structure comprises an opening by means of which the clamp may be placed directly in thedesired position on the support rod without having to be slipped over the end of the rod, a v-shapedslot for receiving the support rod and-fixing the position of the clamp relative to that of the support rod, and a thumb-screw for fastening the parts in'these positions. The usual practice in the art has been to construct these clamps in such a way that the connecting bar and the thumb-screw extend away from the support rod'in opposite directions. In other words, the center line of the connecting bar and the center line of thumb-screw form an angle of 180 relative to each other. A typical clamp holder for use, for instance, in fastening together two support rods, may comprise two of the attachment structures described above. These may be in a fixed position relative to each other, or they may be connected'by a swivel joint. The usual practice in the art has been to construct these clamp holders in such'a way that the two thumb-screws are at opposite ends of the clamp holder from each other.

Clamps and clamp holders of the types described above have been widely used and have .provedto be moderately satisfactory. They suffer, however, from several disadvantages. In the first place, when a technician is-using them to set up his laboratory apparatus, he frequently finds that he must use first one hand and then theother to tighten the various thumb-screws. Secondly, he finds that he must frequently reach around in back of a support rod to tighten a thumb-screw. Either of these conditions may result in great inconvenience or in exposure to unnecessary hazards.

' It is an object of this invention to overcome these disadvantages by providing an improved attachment structure whereby clamps, clamp holders and the like maybe attached to support rods. Other'objects of this invention will appear hereinafter.

This invention may be understood most, readily by reference to Fig. 1 which depicts one of its embodiments. Briefly, the invention is concerned with an improved attachment structure I for attaching laboratory clamps, clamp holders, and the-liketo; asupport rod 2, thestructure being such that the centerline 3 .of the thumb-screw 4 Claims. (01. 24s--229 4 forms a front angle between about 20and about material, such as brass, stainless steel, enameled with the center line 5 of the main body of the clamp or clamp holder. 'In other words, the

thumb-screw and the main body of the clamp,

generally speaking, are located on the same side of the support rod rather than being on posite sides thereof.

Theinvention will now be described in greater detail again with reference to Fig. 1. The'purpose-of the corner-piece 6 (or V-shaped piece) is to fit closely against the support rod 2 and, with the assistance of the thumb-screw t, to hold the entire clamp firmly in the desired position I on the support rod. The arm 1 supports the corner-piece 6 and isfitted with a threaded hole 8 thru which the thumb-screw is inserted. By loosening the thumb-screw a little bit, the clamp may be moved to a different position on the support rod, where it may be fixed firmly again'by retightening the thumb-screw. By loosening the thumb-screw considerably, the clamp may be removed completely from the support rod, there being a sufficiently wide opening between the corner-piece 6 and the point 9 to allow the support rod to pass thru. It will be noticed that the angle between the center-line 5 of the main body of the'clamp and the center-line 3 of the thumb-screw is about 45.

.Fig. 2 shows a different embodiment it of the improved attachment structure, in which all the essential features of the invention are retained, and are merely assembled according to a slightly altered design. In particular, it will be noticed that the angle between the center-line ll of the main body of the clamp, and the center-line I2 of the thumb-screw is about 45.

By modifying the details of construction of this improved attachment structure, it is obvious that this invention may be adapted to a wide variety of uses. The size of the structure will be regulated by the approximate size of the support rods to which theclamps are to be attached, and by the amount of weight that it is desired tosupport. The angle, for instance, of they-shaped corner-piece in either Fig. 1 or Fig. 2 may be or less than 90, or greater than 90. the main body of the clamp and the center-line of the thumb-screw need not be limited to exactly 45 but mayadvantageously be varied anywhere Any suitable or plated metal, or the like, may be used in the construction. I

Many superior laboratory clamps, clamp holders, and the like may be produced by combining the improved attachment structure of this invention with the various apparatus-grip-- ping-mechanisms and adjustable connecting bars known to the art. One particularly preferred embodiment of this invention results from the of about 20 to about 70 And-the angle between the center-'- line of combination of the present invention with the apparatus-gripping-mechanism disclosed in my copending.applieationisi N. I 242756; rues: January," 28, 1947. This mechanism is also shown'in Fig? 1- and comprises an indented or perforated band of flexible metal 13, a housing M, and a worm. positioned Within this housing. The-housing,- is connected by means of the connectingebar' to the improved attachment structure I. This housing is also fastened to one end of .trieepor-i forated band [3, and the Worm.engages.the.0ther. end of the band in such a way that turning the worm causes the band to be tightened or loosened depending on the direction of rotation of the wormi.

A nother preferred.- embodiment Ofi tl-iis invene tion as shown in :Fig. 3 results from .thecombinae tion-ofthe. improved attachment. structure. l hofr this? inventionwith Y. a previously known type: of. attachmentstructure I8 to produce. a-. clamp. holder. This clamp holder mayalso. bericharr acterized, asshown, by a swivel: joint.- IB. and fasteningiscreww Wherebythe two=rods-.2l and: 2 2 to. be connected may be. held.- at-l any desired; angle. relativeatoeach other.

And, a particularly.- preferredrusagle 501 this in vention,-. as shown in Fig. 4;, comprises a. clamp? holder resulting from. the combination. of the: attachment structure shown in Fig." 1.,, with the; attachmentlstructureshown in Fig: 2:. Itwil1:-bes notedathat aszthe': result of the presentinvena tion; .thewclamp. holders .in both Fig.- 3 and Fig: .41 are: so: designed: that the: center-lines of the: two thumbescrewsa createa-n. angle of only; about! betweenone-anothen' l lumerous.- advantages; 2.:11'561 from i. the use: of. the-improved :attachment :structureof the present invention inmaking clamps; clampsholdersaandi the.-1ilce; In: the first-I place; it. frequently; en

ables.thei'teohnician, inxsetting up his apparatus; I

ta tighten all the: necessary; thumbescrews: on: a: given clamp with one hand; thus leaving; his; other? hand: free: Secondly when: Working; in confinedl spaces} as is" frequently,--' the: case": nears distillation. stillepots or our. vacuums. benches;v its meansmha-tlthertechnicianlhasionly*toxleavevspaces enough: for; his-hand: tosgo in along oneiwsldmoir his: apparatusa. Third1y; .hemay: never-1' have; to; place: his: hand in? backv of; the" support: rodi to: which his clamp is iattach'eoU. Thisuresultain greatr convenleneeeand much greatenr safety; by. avoiding; a: large. amount- 0f; reaching: fon' difficultlyeplaced a thumb'vscrewsi. Azndiourthlyg .the; i'nvezrf tion byamaking possiblesthe oonstructioniof' new types of; clamps; and. clamp: holdersggreatly; 1112- creases the; diversity of; structurahequipmentt at; the disposal: of: the: techniciam. thus increasing: the versatility of. hissapparatuszarrangements'i.

It: will occur: to thosecskilledz int. the? artthats many modifications-sand:alterations may be made:

in: theimproved attachmentl structures described; herein. without. departing; from; the spirit; and. scopexof therinventionz. It'-.isnotzintendedgtheree fore-n. that. the: invention: shouldi be restricted inway other: thanxby the claims=- appende'd 'efiz circle. as support. rod, and? a: connecting: bar; ex 701 tendinggfrom. one end of. saict attachment struc tu.re;. saidattachment structure: comprising? \/.-sha1.ied. piece which is; disposed: on: the: end. ofs: the. attachment; structureaway: from the: cone-- nectingebai'.. andrwhich.isi-aclapte'd to receivessa-idli 75E. 2e263;1:12==

support rod, a thumb screw mounted in a hole threaded in said attachment structure across from..said \t-stiaped piece: and". adapted to hold said" support rod" firmly" against said V shaped piece, and an opening in said attachment structure through Which the support rod can pass; the. center. lines of the connecting bar and the thumbiscrew extending away from the attachment structure at an angle of from about 20 to about relative to each other.

2..In.allaboratory, clamp, the combination of an attachment structure adapted to partially enciroiei as. support rod, and a connecting bar extending from one end oftsaid attachment structure; said. attachment structure. comprising a Vr-shaped piece. which is. disposed on .the .end.'.of the.- attachment. structure. away. from. thev con.- necting bar. and..which is adapted to.-receive-said1 support rod, a thumb screw mounted,in..a.hole. threaded in said. attachment structure: across from' said: \A-shaped: piece. and adaptedto-hold.v said support rod. firmly against. said vi-shaped. piece, andan. opening. in said. attachment StIllCr ture..-thr.ough whichthesupport rod can .pass; the. center: linespof, the connecting bar. and the thumb screw extending; away fromattachmentstructure-at: arrangle :of fromabout-.45? relative. toieach-other:

3. A1 laboratoryclamp, holder comprisingttwol, attachment structures joined. togethenbya: con? necting bar. and 'adapted to-hold-two rods-.inaw fixed positionirelative. toreach: other; .inrwhich. atleast zone-of :said attachment structures comprises.- a-v-shaped...piece which .isdisposed .onthe end. of the-attachment struetureawayefrom:theconnecting; bar and. which is. adapted to receive 2 one :ofi said" rods, a thumb. screw: mounted: in. a holethreaded: in. said attachmentustructure across. from said V-shaped piec and. adapted. toaholdt said-rod-firmly against saidvvwshapecl piece-,;.and an.-.op ening ;in saidiattachment structurethrough.- which saidrrod. canpass-g the. center. linesmfl the.- connecting; bar ands thesaid. thumb. screw? ex tending; away from the said .attaehment. struceture/ atsan. angle-10f from about-.20? totaboutl '70? relativeto each other.

4. In a laboratory: clamp; the. combination of an-:a-ttachnrentvstructure:adaptecbto :pa-rtiallyencircle a support rod, a connecting bar extending; away from onea'end 0f-:saidf attachment structure, and; atthe far. end. of. said-connecting; bar? from.-. saidi att'a'ehmenti structure means for: gripping-3 laboratory apparatus said 1 attachment: strueturea comprisingv at V-s-haped. piece which:v is disposed".

orrtheendof theratta-chmentstructure away from; the :connecting; ban andwvhiehz is: adapted: turret-- ceiv-esaid; support rod, a. thumb: screw mounted; in a-hole: threadediin :said attachmentistructure across: from. said L V-shaned piece a ndxadaptedz to; hold: saith support. rod firmly g" againstsaid: V. shaped. piece, and. an; opening. i111. said atta'ch.--- ment structure through whichsthei'supportlrodw canpass-ythe centeralines-iof thetreonnecting, bar ancbthe; thumb. screws extending; away; from; the; attachment: structure: atwan 2 angieiof from aboutt 20. to about!7Df*"r.elative:to:each othen.

DQNABDFM. SNIITH:

References fined in" the fileof this patent Name Date 157 07375fin1 Bones" -a... A131; 2 1929; 1;7541929 I Ai'ltick's 6131- al; and... A-DI'J. 152.1930 

